• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

My version of WAL-style pickup

MPU

MPU

Sep 21, 2004
3,703
10,692
56
Valkeala Finland
#1
I just finished and tested a WAL-inspired eight-coil pickup. It has acrylic bobbins, Alnico5 magnets and 2,45Kohm wire on each coil.
Sound sample at Invalid Link Removed
Same bass with EMG HBCS Invalid Link Removed
For testing the pickup was taped to the top of the bass. Sounds were recorded direct to Boss MicroBR.
Comments please!
Marko
 
#6
MPU said:
Both rows of four are in series (end of coil to start of next one) and then the rows of four are in series and in phase, opposite polarity on magnets on rows, another row wound in cw, another ccw.
Marko
Click to expand...

So if I understand correctly, on each row of 4, you have one magnet N, the next S, N and S again (or S, N, S, N)? You also wound one clock wise and the next counter clock wise?
You might want to try all 4 magnets in a row N up and wound clock wise, then the other row S up and wound clock wise as well.
I haven't tried to wind a pickup (yet) like your doing, but I have tried 5 string split coil designs with 3 mags N and 2 S up. The string over the first S magnet didn't sound right.
The thing with winding pups is experimenting, since nobody will tell you anything :). Good luck.
 
#11
I liked the tone of your pickup for certain music, but I think the EMG may have more versatility to it. Nice work on your pickup. I wonder how it would sound slapped or in the two J positions rather than in the sweet spot.
 
#16
The Wal pickups are set up like a big humbucker, but with a coil for each pickup. So each row is like one coil on a regular humbucker. One row is north, and the other is south.

Current Wal pickups have each "string pair" of coils wired in series, and each string has it's own output and is wired in parallel at the preamp. The older Pro Series was wired up like Marko's with each row of coils in series, and then both rows in series.

One difference with Marko's pickup is he used alnico rod magnets in each coil. The real Wal pickup has steel poles and big steel keeper bars that the poles are threaded into, and big ceramic magnets. So all the steel raises the inductance of the pickup, which will make it darker sounding.

So the Wal pickup has a thick tone, but is also bright sounding.

Personally I don't think EMGs have very much low end.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Peter Weil
#17
I have just finished a bass (very Wal-like, mahogany core, walnut top/back with flame maple veneers, maple neck with walnut strips and dual cf rods and EIR fretboard, Hipshot hardware) with two of these humbuckers. I'm waiting for pot knobs, then I'll post pics and more sound clips of the bass. The clarity is there, with stronger bass than on the first test clips. I also have the Anderton Super Tone Control filter ready after I finish the painting of the box. With that there's no lack of sound shaping.
Here's a link to one sound clip, there's drums too, sorry.
Invalid Link Removed
The main bass is with mostly neck pickup, the octave bass is with bridge pickup only. Straight to the MicroBR with no tone shaping. Comments please!
Marko
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back